Berry leads Potomac State past Hagerstown and Region XX Championship

Catamounts claim 8^th Region XX title in last 10 years

Wye Mills, MD- Potomac State used a simple formula to claim this year's Region XX Baseball tournament: Great starting pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting.

After getting great starting pitching from Paul Chenoweth and Eric Hinkle in game one and two; Andy Berry followed suite in leading Potomac State past Hagerstown Community College 6-1 to win the 2009 Region XX Championship.  The Virginia Beach, VA native delivered with a complete game nine strike out effort as he stifled the Hawks offense.  Berry did not surrender a walk as he scattered seven hits, six of which were singles to pick up the win.

"Andy pitched so well today, it was a masterful effort," said PSC Head Coach Doug Little.  "Andy is a student of the game and after seeing yesterday's game, I think he had a pretty good game plan as to how to attack their hitters."

"Hagerstown has a very good team and they had a great year.  We are very happy to win and proud to represent Region XX in the Eastern District Tournament," added Little.

Potomac State drew first blood in the top of the first against Hagerstown starter Spencer Cromer.  Cody Dalton led off the game by getting hit with a pitch.  Scott Davis then gave PSC a quick 2-0 lead with a long home run to deep left field.

"Scotty gave us a quick lift, it was nice to have the lead so early, because we knew that Cromer wouldn't be easy to score on," said Little.

From there Berry made the lead hold up, as he was perfect after three innings.  After five innings, Berry had allowed just two singles and had struck out seven of the seventeen hitters he had faced.

HCC pushed a run across in the sixth when Adam Brunck and Matt Greene opened the inning with back-to-back singles.  HCC moved the runners up to second and third with a sacrifice bunt.  John Barrett then cut the lead in half with an RBI groundout that scored Brunck making the game 2-1.

The Potomac State offense answered in the top of the seventh with a four run cushion.  Josh Birthisel blooped a single to right field to open the inning.  Justin Grantham then reached on a bunt single to put runners at first and second.  PSC was unable to execute a sacrifice bunt of their own and after a strike out the runners remained at first and second.  However, a Cromer wild pitch moved the runners up 90 feet each.  Cody Dalton then worked a walk to load the bases.  Scott Davis followed with another walk that forced home Birthisel and ended the day for Cromer.

John Byram replaced Cromer and Gary Williams lofted a short fly ball to left field that allowed the speedy Grantham to score in a close play at the plate for a sacrifice fly.  Dalton and Davis also tagged up on the play to put runners at second and third with two outs.

Byram then quickly worked ahead of Kurtis Voytell 0-2, before Voytell punched a single to right field that scored Dalton and Davis making the lead 6-1.

HCC threatened in the eighth when Danny Heatwole hit a one-out double.  John Barrett was then hit with a pitch.  But Berry was able to induce the first double play of the game to end the inning.  Berry retired the side in order in the ninth to complete the victory.

Potomac State, 35-12, will now head to the Eastern District Championships in New York starting on Friday.  Tournament details are still pending.